Barn Manager
Born and raised in the Rhineland area of Cologne, Germany, from an early age Markus knew he wanted a career outside of an office cubicle. As a kid he was an avid and adept football (soccer to Americans) player, even drawing the attention of professional scouts when he was a teenager. A minor injury sidelined his aspirations of playing with a major league team, and he decided to focus on some other passions.
He graduated with an MBA from Dortmund and developed an interest in the hospitality industry in Operations and became a discerning sommelier, working with several top wine producers and vintners. He also served as GM/CEO of a major wine association for 15 years, and was sales rep for a wine company.
He relocated to Canada, then Atlanta GA in 2006 to work with a small distribution company that he helped grow from 4 employees to over 50 by 2021, providing culinary products to major food suppliers across the US. On his 55th birthday, his present was a horse, which sparked an entirely new passion.
“I really just fell in love with it – all of it; riding, taking care of the horse, bonding with him, mucking out and feeding,” Markus remembers. “It’s so much fun. I bought another horse later on, but that first one taught me how to be a horseman. I’ll never sell him.”
He dove into attending shows and events, absorbing and learning everything he could about the equine industry, which led him to discovering Ocala. He found himself drawn to the area and returned several times because he liked it so much, with its temperate, warm climate and equestrian culture. He joined Tamarian Farms Equestrian Center as Barn Manager in 2022.
“It’s like having a hotel or a bed and breakfast – but for horses,” he chuckles, noting that his experience working with 5-Star hotels in London and Lake Geneva translates well. “I just apply that experience. And I love the work; otherwise I wouldn’t do it.”
Markus is up at 7 a.m. or earlier to muck out the stalls, feed the horses and spend time with them to start each day, turning them out to their paddocks and making sure each one is happy and healthy. He also handles all our boarding contracts, stall assignments, and rentals – everything that happens with the horses and the farm, Markus is the one to see. He supervises the duties and workload for the barn crew, and is always ready to roll up his sleeves to work alongside them, preferring to be as active and hands-on as possible.
“My job is to take care of the horses and the property and make sure it’s all in top condition and I know what needs to be done – whether it’s repairing some fencing or fixing a waterline or tending the grounds,” He explains. “If I’m doing it myself, I know it’s being done the right way, and our boarding clients can feel secure that I’m there for them.”
